The NFL’s newly adopted caring about protecting the player is actually the NFL’s caring about their bottom line – as expenses affect the net effect on the bottom line just in the same way gross revenues do.

However, the NFL rarely fines the types of hits that leave end careers (like Cannon’s leg whip) or leave men crippled shells of themselves barely able to care for themselves (e.g., Earl Campbell). Regardless of the devastating effect of these types of injuries, they are considered unactionable by being long accepted risks of the game.

This latter category of injuries does not affect the NFL’s bottom line, and the NFL continues to deny thousands of needy players care for legitimate needs.

In sum, the NFL’s big push about protecting the player – has little do with protecting the player. It’s about protecting the profit margin.